Any creature lurking around is enough to give anyone the heebie-jeebies. Whether it’s a 2-legged creature emerging out of the black lagoon or an 8-legged spider crawling across the floor, anyone would go running the opposite direction.

Though a 2-legged creature in the black lagoon is very unlikely, a spider, on the other hand, is a common sight in any home. Most spiders are harmless and are only hanging around to hunt other insects trying to get into your home, while others are more defensive and are full of venom that can harm you, should you get bitten.

Spiders have one set of venom glands that secrete venom to their prey when they bite them. The venom paralyzes the insect so the spider can take them back to their nest to feed on. Female spiders also take a paralyzed victim back to feed her young. Brown recluse and black widow spider venom is toxic enough to harm humans and animals.

There are 2 types of orb weaver spiders that do not possess venom glands so they will take their prey and thoroughly wrap it in a cocoon of silk and regurgitated enzymes which liquifies the insect for later consumption. These spiders are the hackled orb weaver and cribellate orb weaver.

Some familiar spiders often seen inside your home are the jumping spider, the cellar spider, and common house spider.

Jumping Spider

Jumping spiders are fascinating spiders. They can jump up to 6” high and over 30” in distance. They quietly stalk their prey, only to jump and pounce on them, before injecting a dose of venom to paralyze them. Jumping spiders do not spin a web so their hunting method is different from other spiders. Very few spiders do not create webs for hunting or laying eggs.

The jumping spider has what is called pedipalps. These look like tiny legs towards the front of their head. The female uses these to “wave” at other jumping spiders or to attract a mate. They are also used after pouncing on their prey to help capture it.

After mating, female jumping spiders (like most other female spiders) kill and eat her mate. After a week or two, she is ready to lay her eggs. 100+ eggs will hatch in 14-21 days. Spiderlings typically leave the nest in approximately 4 weeks after which the female spider dies.

Spiders that do not spin webs create a secluded nesting area in a dark, moist area to lay eggs. Those that do spin webs, cocoon the egg sac and attach to a web that is out of the way so the female can guard it.

Cellar Spiders aka Daddy Long Legs

 Cellar spiders are more commonly known as daddy long legs. These spiders are not harmful to humans. They do possess venom that paralyzes their prey when captured but can not bite humans. Daddy long legs are web builders. Their webs, however, are quite messy looking. Just something thrown together from point A to point B to hopefully capture an insect for dinner. These spiders (like most spiders) are a great natural pest control. They capture and eat bugs that you don’t want in your home. This type of spider is well known for having long thin legs that can reach up to 3”. But, did you know, the nymph daddy long leg spiders are capable of regenerating a lost leg? It’s only when they reach adulthood they are no longer able to regenerate limbs.

Daddy long legs sneak around your home hiding under furniture, in cracks and crevices by the baseboards, around windows, and in boxes or clutter.

After mating, the female daddy long leg does not kill and eat her mate like some other spider species do. Instead, she holds her egg sac in her pedipalps (tiny legs by head) and carries it around for roughly 3 weeks before they hatch. Then, she will still carry her 40+ spiderlings around until they make their way into her web where they continue to grow.

An interesting fact about daddy long legs: they not only make an untidy web to catch prey but they also use other spider’s webs to prey on them. Spiderwebs are generally made up of a sticky glue-like silk that unsuspecting insects get caught in. But, the daddy long leg webs aren’t glue-like. In fact, they are non-sticky and when invading another spider’s web, they tip toe with their long legs and create a non-stick web over the other spider’s sticky web allowing them access to creep up undetected and pounce on them. In short, they’re pretty sneaky spiders.

Common House Spider

Common house spiders are another frequently seen spider around the house. These spiders aren’t harmful to humans, just the prey they’re hunting. Like other spider species, they do possess venom to inject into their prey to paralyze it before eating it for dinner.

House spiders don’t generally survive outdoors. They need warmth and shelter. You’ll typically find them in closets, garages, basements, and secluded areas. If left alone, they can live over 5 years and be your home’s natural pest control.

Female house spiders cocoon her 200+ eggs in a silk sac that is attached to her nest web so she can monitor it. These eggs hatch in about 10 days and the spiderlings remain close to the nest for 3-4 weeks before venturing off to create their own nesting area and continue with the family pest control business.

Other than catching unwanted insects in your home, there isn’t anything spectacular about the common house spider. They don’t jump and pounce on prey. They don’t create a special non-stick web to invade other spider’s web traps. They just collect bugs.

So should you want additional pest control protection, contact Safe Earth Pest Control today. We have plans for all your home and lawn care needs. 214-321-2847